Services

Help & Care is a registered charity that supports people and communities to live the lives they choose. We are here to provide you with information, advice and support that will enable you to take control of your life, make decisions and find support that is right for you.

Support Us

As a charitable organisation, Help & Care relies on the local community. If you wish to support us to change lives and improve communities, there are lots of ways you can help. We always welcome new volunteers, fundraisers, stock for our charity shop or legacies and money donations.

Work With Us

At Help & Care we want to make a difference to people's lives and welcome applications from all to join our team. If you are interested in applying for a role at Help & Care, please use the vacancies page to apply.

Other sources of legal help, and help with Power of Attorney

Allied Services Trust is a Registered Charity with professionally trained experts in Lasting Power of Attorney. Help is available to help you understand and make your lasting Power of Attorney documents. Allied Services Trust can even act as your attorney if required. For further details and charges please contact the office on 01590 644073.

Diverse Abilities offers assistance and support to disabled people, with the complicated issues around dealing with the forms and paperwork involved in applying for disability benefits, and legal matters involved in setting up Power of Attorney (LAP), deputyship, wills, and Advance Decisions and Living Wills, and transitions checklists. Diverse Abilities are also offering assistance with setting up Lasting Power of Attorney to older people, and people with memory problems so that documents can be set in place whilst they still have capacity to do so. Staff will be able to visit you at home to assist you with the forms, and will do their best to explain or avoid the use of unnecessary legal jargon. For further details and charges contact 0300 330 5514 Mon – Friday 9.30am – 1.30pm (information and appointment line).

The PSU are an independent charity who are able to support people going through the civil and family court process, and tribunals without legal representation. With the help of trained and experienced volunteers, including post-graduate students who are training to be Barristers or Solicitors, their aim is to help you manage your case yourself. The service is free, independent and confidential, and is offered to everyone who asks. The PSU can help by:

• Helping you work through court forms

• Helping you find your way around the court system and the court building itself

• Attending court with you for emotional support

• Help you organise your thoughts and court papers

• Refer you to other legal agencies or advocacy services able to help you, and go with you to court offices and counters

Deaf BSL users in England and Wales receiving benefits or living on a low income are able to obtain free and confidential legal advice through a webcam with a broadband connection. The caseworkers are fluent in BSL, and provide specialist advice about Welfare Benefits and Employment, Housing and Debt. For further information visit www.radlegalservices.org.uk

Able to provide advice from specialist lawyers in the following areas of law:

• Personal Injury.

• Wills, Trusts, Tax Planning and Probate

• Buying and Selling Properties

• Family, Matrimonial and Child Law

• Motoring Offences and all Criminal Law

• Employment

• Planning

• Disputes

• Clinical and Medical Negligence

• Equine Law

• Immigration

• Bankruptcy

• Business and Commercial Law

Book a ‘SolicitorSlot’ for a time and date to suit you; you can put your legal enquiries to a specialist lawyer who will answer them – free of charge. You can book a SolicitorSlot online or by telephone. If actual legal work is then required, we will tell you what we would charge. You are then free to “shop around”. You will never be liable to us for any legal fees unless we have given you a fee quote and you have agreed to it.

Victim Support is the national independent charity for people affected by crime – victims and witnesses, their families and friends – we are here to help. Trained staff and volunteers offer free and confidential information, support and practical help following a crime, such as burglary, assault, harassment, domestic violence, rape and murder. Victim Support can offer:

• Someone to talk to in confidence

• Emotional support and practical help

• Information on the police, court procedures and criminal justice system